Chapter 9

Lisa had never felt quite this nervous before.

The past few weeks had been a whirlwind. She had officially accepted the leadership position her dad had offered, and while she wasn’t diving into the family business just yet, she would be taking on a project that involved managing one of his partner companies.

It was a big step, and for the first time in a long while, Lisa felt like she was on the edge of something huge.

But right now, she was standing in Jennie’s office, heart pounding, because Jennie had just dropped another bomb on her.

“You want me to... give a speech?” Lisa asked, trying not to sound as horrified as she felt.

Jennie sat at her desk, as composed as ever, her expression calm and unmoved by Lisa’s panic.

“You’ll be presenting at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting. It’s a ten-minute speech, covering the key milestones and strategic goals for the upcoming year.”

Lisa blinked, still processing. “Me? Why me? Don’t you usually give that speech?”

Jennie’s gaze didn’t waver. “I’ll be giving the opening remarks. But this year, I want you to handle the core presentation.”

Lisa’s stomach flipped. This was

not what she had signed up for when she walked into work this morning.

Sure, she’d been feeling more confident lately after all, she was about to step into a leadership role for her dad’s company

but giving a speech to Kim Industries’ shareholders? That was another level entirely.

“I... uh, I’ve never done anything like that before,” Lisa stammered.

“Are you sure you want me to do it? I mean, you’ve seen me in meetings.I tend to, you know, ramble.”

Jennie’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s exactly why you need to do it.”

Lisa blinked again, caught off guard. “Wait, what?”

Jennie sighed, standing up and walking around her desk, her heels clicking against the floor with the kind of authority that Lisa would probably never master.

“You’re stepping into a leadership role soon, Ms. Manoban. You’ll need to be able to address large groups, communicate effectively, and, most importantly, exude confidence. This is your opportunity to prove that you can do that.”

Lisa opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Jennie had a point if Lisa couldn’t give a ten-minute speech to shareholders, how was she supposed to manage an entire company?

Jennie’s gaze softened just slightly. “I’ve noticed your progress, but this is the next step. You need to learn how to command a room.”

Lisa let out a nervous laugh. “Command a room? Me? Have you met me? I’m more of a ‘trip over my own feet’ kind of person.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow. “Then stop tripping.”

Lisa stared at her, surprised by the bluntness but also... weirdly encouraged. Jennie wasn’t coddling her, wasn’t offering her any kind of emotional support, but somehow, that made it even more real. Jennie expected her to step up.

Lisa took a deep breath, trying to channel some of Jennie’s icy confidence.

“Okay. I’ll do it. But if I screw up and the shareholders revolt, I’m blaming you.”

“You won’t screw up, Ms. Manoban. As long as you prepare.”

---

For the next two days, Lisa threw herself into preparing for the speech. She spent hours memorizing the key points, practicing in front of the mirror, and even doing mock presentations for Chaeyoung, who offered her moral support but laughed every time Lisa stumbled over her words.

“I don’t know why you’re so worried,” Chaeyoung said one afternoon as they sat in the break room, going over the speech for what felt like the hundredth time. “You’ve got this. You’ve been killing it at work lately.”

Lisa groaned, dropping her head onto the table.

“Yeah, but giving a speech to a room full of shareholders is not the same as wrangling client schedules or organizing an office. These people expect... I don’t know, polished professionalism. I’m more of a chaotic energy kind of girl.”

Chaeyoung snorted. “True, but that’s what makes you. And anyway, Jennie wouldn’t have asked you to do this if she didn’t think you could handle it.”

Lisa lifted her head, staring at her friend.

“You think so? Jennie’s not exactly known for her warm and fuzzy vibes.”

Chaeyoung smirked. “She’s not warm and fuzzy, but she’s smart. If she’s giving you this responsibility, it means she thinks you can do it.”

Lisa sighed, trying to let that sink in. Jennie had trusted her with more responsibilities lately, and the fact that she was even being given the chance to give this speech... it was a sign, right? Jennie wasn’t the type to take risks on people she didn’t believe in.

"Okay, fine. Maybe Jennie believes in me,"Lisa thought, rolling her eyes at herself. But that didn’t make the speech any less terrifying.

---

The day of the shareholders’ meeting arrived, and Lisa stood backstage, clutching her tablet with a death grip. She could hear the murmur of voices from the audience, and her heart was racing.

Jennie was already on stage, giving her opening remarks with the kind of poise that Lisa could only dream of.

“Remember to breathe,” Chaeyoung whispered from the side, giving Lisa a supportive thumbs-up from backstage.

Lisa nodded, taking a deep breath. She had practiced, she had memorized the speech, and she had even managed to stop herself from rambling during her last rehearsal. She could do this. She had to do this.

Jennie wrapped up her introduction, her voice as calm and confident as ever. “And now, I’ll turn things over to Ms. Manoban, who will present our key milestones and strategy for the upcoming year.”

Lisa felt her stomach flip as Jennie stepped off the stage and gestured for her to take the podium. No turning back now.

With shaky hands, Lisa walked out onto the stage, blinking against the bright lights that made it hard to see the audience. She glanced over at Jennie, who was watching her from the side of the stage, her expression unreadable.

Lisa cleared her throat, her heart pounding in her ears. “Good morning, everyone. I’m Lisa Manoban, and today I’ll be going over Kim Industries’ key milestones and strategic goals for the upcoming year.”

There was a brief, terrifying silence as the audience waited for her to continue. But then, something shifted in Lisa’s mind...maybe it was the adrenaline, maybe it was the countless hours of preparation, or maybe it was just Jennie’s voice in the back of her head telling her to stop tripping.

Whatever it was, Lisa suddenly felt herself slipping into a rhythm. She started talking, going over the numbers, the projections, the milestones the company had hit. And as she spoke, the nerves began to fade. She wasn’t rambling. She wasn’t stumbling. She was... doing it.

As the speech went on, Lisa even threw in a few light jokes nothing too risky, just enough to keep the audience engaged. And to her surprise, people actually laughed. They’re laughing. In a good way.

By the time she reached the end of the presentation, Lisa felt something she hadn’t expected: confidence. She wrapped up the speech with a steady voice, smiling at the audience as she delivered the final line. “Thank you, and we look forward to another successful year at Kim Industries.”

The room erupted in applause, and Lisa stood there, blinking in disbelief. I did it. I actually did it.

As she stepped off the stage, Jennie met her at the side, her expression still cool and composed. But there was something in her eyes something almost... approving.

“Good work, Ms. Manoban,” Jennie said, her voice as steady as ever. “You didn’t trip.”

Lisa let out a breathless laugh, still riding the high of having survived the speech. “Thanks. I think that might’ve been the scariest thing I’ve ever done.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow. “And yet, you handled it.”

Lisa grinned. “Yeah. I guess I did.”

Jennie gave a small nod, and for a brief moment, Lisa thought she saw the corners of Jennie’s lips twitch just the tiniest hint of a smile. It was gone almost as quickly as it appeared, but Lisa didn’t care. She’d take it.

As Jennie walked off to deal with post-meeting business, Lisa stood there for a moment, feeling like she had just crossed a major threshold.

She had given a speech in front of shareholders, and she hadn’t completely bombed it. Jennie had trusted her with something huge, and she had risen to the occasion.

Lisa pulled out her phone, typing a quick message to her dad: Just finished a big presentation at work. Didn’t trip over my words or my feet. Let’s talk about the new project soon. I think I’m ready.

She hit send, smiling to herself as she pocketed her phone. She had grown, not just as Jennie’s assistant but as someone who could handle pressure, face challenges head-on, and most importantly believe in herself

Maybe Jennie had been right all along: Leadership wasn’t about feeling ready. It was about stepping up when the moment called for it.

And now? Lisa was ready for whatever came next.

.....

After the shareholders’ meeting, Lisa’s confidence had hit a new high.

She had pulled off the speech without tripping either figuratively or literally and for once, Jennie hadn’t needed to swoop in to save the day. In fact, Jennie had even praised her, in her own cold, Jennie Kim kind of way..

Lisa had expected the usual post-success slump a moment where she’d second-guess herself, waiting for something to go wrong but it hadn’t come. Instead, she felt steady, grounded, and surprisingly... prepared.

That didn’t mean everything was suddenly perfect, though.

Lisa had barely settled into her usual work routine when another curve ball came flying her way: Jennie had just asked her to sit in on a major executive strategy meeting.

Now, sitting in on meetings was nothing new for Lisa. She’d been in plenty of them, usually to take notes or handle logistics. But this was different. Jennie had explicitly told her to be prepared to contribute.

“You want me to contribute?” Lisa had asked, blinking in surprise when Jennie first brought it up. “Like, with actual ideas?”

Jennie had given her that classic Jennie stare -- cool, unreadable, and just a bit judgmental. “Yes, Ms. Manoban. I assume you’ve learned enough by now to provide valuable input.”

Lisa had nodded, trying not to show how freaked out she was. “Of course. I’m full of valuable input.”

Now, as she sat at her desk going over the agenda for the meeting, Lisa’s mind raced with all the things she could potentially say.

This was a room full of top executives, and Jennie was expecting her to contribute something meaningful?  No pressure, she thought sarcastically.

---

The meeting room felt colder than usual, or maybe that was just Lisa’s nerves acting up.

She sat beside Jennie, clutching her tablet like a lifeline as the executives filed in one by one, taking their seats around the long, imposing table.

Jennie, as always, was calm and composed, her posture perfect, her expression impossible to read. Lisa had tried to channel that same calm energy, but her bouncing knee under the table betrayed her.

The meeting started smoothly enough. Jennie took charge, leading the discussion on the company’s long-term growth strategy and key initiatives for the upcoming year.

The executives nodded along, chiming in here and there with their own insights. Lisa mostly stayed quiet, trying to absorb everything like a sponge.

But as the discussion turned toward a new project in the international market, Lisa felt Jennie’s eyes on her.

“Ms. Manoban,” Jennie said, her voice steady, but with a note of expectation,

“you’ve been working closely with our international teams. What’s your assessment of the expansion potential in the Asia-Pacific region?”

Lisa’s heart skipped a beat. Okay, here we go. She had prepared for this sort of. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to speak with the confidence she’d been practicing.

“Well, based on what I’ve seen,” Lisa began, her voice only slightly shaky,

“there’s definitely a lot of growth potential in the region. The market is expanding quickly, especially in tech and digital services. I think we could focus more on localizing our marketing strategies to fit cultural nuances, which would give us a stronger foothold. The challenge will be ensuring we don’t spread resources too thin while still maintaining the flexibility to adapt to the local markets.”

The room was silent for a moment as the executives processed her words. Lisa held her breath, waiting for someone anyone to react.

One of the executives, a stern-looking man in his fifties, nodded thoughtfully.

“That’s a good point. Localizing could definitely give us an edge.”

Another executive chimed in, agreeing with Lisa’s assessment. And before she knew it, the conversation had shifted into a deeper discussion on international strategy, with the room seemingly embracing her input.

Lisa blinked in surprise. Did I just... contribute? She glanced at Jennie, half-expecting some kind of feedback, but Jennie simply nodded, as if this was exactly what she’d expected all along.

As the meeting continued, Lisa found herself speaking up more often than she thought she would. Her nerves began to settle, and by the end of the discussion, she realized something startling: She had held her own.

When the meeting finally wrapped up, the executives filed out, leaving Lisa and Jennie alone in the conference room. Lisa slumped back in her chair, exhaling a long breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

“Well,” Lisa said, running a hand through her hair, “that wasn’t as disastrous as I thought it would be.”

Jennie stood, gathering her things with her usual efficiency. “It wasn’t disastrous at all, Ms. Manoban.”

Lisa blinked, sitting up. “Wait, was that... praise?”

Jennie’s eyes flicked toward her, cool as ever. “I expect competence, Ms. Manoban. You delivered. That’s all.”

Lisa grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Jennie didn’t respond, but Lisa could swear she saw the faintest hint of a smile tug at the corners of Jennie’s lips before she turned and walked toward the door.

Just as Jennie was about to leave, she paused, glancing back at Lisa. “You’ve made progress.”

Lisa’s heart skipped a beat. Jennie Kim, the Jennie Kim was acknowledging her progress? This was practically a victory parade in Jennie’s world.

“Thanks, Ms. Kim,” Lisa said, smiling. “I’ve had a pretty good mentor.”

Jennie’s expression remained neutral, but there was something softer in her gaze. “Remember that progress doesn’t mean the work is done. Continue improving.”

With that, Jennie left the room, leaving Lisa sitting there, feeling both dazed and elated.

---

Later that evening, as Lisa sat in her apartment reflecting on the day, she couldn’t help but feel proud of herself.

She had contributed in a major meeting, earned Jennie’s approval (sort of), and didn’t trip over her words or her feet. In fact, she felt more in control than she had in a long time.

Her phone buzzed with a message from her dad: Looking forward to seeing you take on the new leadership role, Lalisa. You’re going to do great.

Lisa smiled, tapping out a quick reply. Thanks, Dad. I’m ready for it.

And she meant it. For the first time, Lisa wasn’t just saying she was ready, she actually felt it. Jennie had pushed her, challenged her, and forced her to confront her own doubts. And now, Lisa was starting to see that she had more in her than she’d ever realized.

As she set her phone down, Lisa thought about the next steps. She’d be transitioning into her new leadership role soon, but she wasn’t leaving Kim Industries just yet. There was still so much to learn, and Jennie, in her cold but oddly effective way, had become someone Lisa looked up to though she’d never admit that out loud.

There was still progress to be made, still steps to take. But for once, Lisa wasn’t afraid of the next challenge.

Because if she could handle Jennie Kim’s expectations, command a room full of executives, and give speeches without falling flat on her face, then she could handle anything.

And with a grin, Lisa knew she was ready for whatever came next.

---

Two weeks later, Lisa’s schedule was packed. Between preparing for her transition into the leadership role her dad had offered and continuing to support Jennie at Kim Industries, she barely had time to catch her breath. The new position was starting to feel real, she was set to take over the expansion project for her father’s company by the end of the month.

But Jennie wasn’t letting her off easy.

“Ms. Manoban,” Jennie said one morning as she stood at Lisa’s desk, a folder in hand. “I need you to work on this strategic report for the board. It needs to be ready by next week.”

Lisa looked up from her computer, raising an eyebrow. “Next week? That’s not exactly a lot of time.”

Jennie’s expression was as cold and calm as ever. “I trust you can handle it.”

Lisa blinked. I trust you can handle it. Coming from Jennie, that was practically a gold star.

“Well, I guess I’m going to be living at the office for the next few days,” Lisa muttered, grabbing the folder. “No pressure, right?”

Jennie didn’t respond to the joke, but she gave Lisa a small nod. “You’re capable of managing your time. Don’t waste it.”

Lisa chuckled as Jennie walked away. “So encouraging, Ms. Kim.”

But despite the sarcasm, Lisa felt... proud. Jennie wouldn’t be giving her so much responsibility if she didn’t think Lisa could handle it. And while the pressure was intense, it was also a sign that Lisa had earned Jennie’s trust or at least Jennie’s version of trust, which involved a lot of high expectations and minimal praise.

As Lisa opened the folder and started reviewing the details for the report, she felt a sense of purpose settle over her. This was the next step another challenge to overcome, another chance to prove herself.

And now, with everything she had learned, Lisa was ready.

---

The following days were a blur of work, meetings, and last-minute deadlines. Lisa worked late into the evening, pouring over the strategic report for the board, making sure every detail was perfect. She barely had time to think about her upcoming leadership role her focus was entirely on finishing the report and meeting.

Jennie’s expectations.

By the time the weekend arrived, Lisa felt like she had barely slept. But the report was done, and Jennie had reviewed it with her usual cool efficiency, offering only a brief, “It’s sufficient,” before sending it off to the board.

Lisa, exhausted but satisfied, collapsed at her desk. “Sufficient. That’s basically a standing ovation in Jennie’s world.”

But even as she joked, Lisa couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. She had done it. She had met Jennie’s expectations, delivered on time, and handled the pressure without falling apart. It was yet another step toward proving that she was ready for the next stage in her career.

And as she glanced at her phone, which buzzed with a message from her dad about an upcoming meeting for her new role, Lisa smiled to herself.

She wasn’t just Jennie’s assistant anymore. She was growing into something more someone who could lead, contribute, and hold her own in any situation.

And for once, Lisa wasn’t afraid of what came next.

Because with Jennie’s cold, unflinching guidance and her own newfound confidence, Lisa knew she was ready for anything.

....

Lisa stared at her calendar, feeling a mix of exhaustion and anticipation. It was a strange feeling being at the edge of something new while still tied to the current chaos that was her job at Kim Industries.

On one hand, she was stepping into a leadership role for her dad’s company, something she had been dreading and dreaming about in equal measure. On the other hand, Jennie wasn’t exactly letting her off the hook yet.

“Ms. Manoban, I need that budget proposal by tomorrow,” Jennie said as she passed by Lisa’s desk, not even slowing down.

Lisa’s head snapped up from her computer, her eyes wide. “Tomorrow? Are you serious?”

Jennie turned briefly, her expression unreadable. “If I weren’t serious, I wouldn’t have said it.”

Lisa blinked, muttering to herself as she typed out a reminder. “Cool, cool. No pressure. Just another night of no sleep. Love it.”

As Jennie walked away, Lisa sighed. Between wrapping up her responsibilities at Kim Industries and preparing for her new leadership role at her dad’s company, she felt like she was being pulled in a hundred different directions. But weirdly enough, she wasn’t crumbling under the pressure. She was actually handling it.

Well, most of it.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her attention away from the screen. It was a message from her dad: Reminder: Strategy meeting on Thursday. Let’s review your plans beforehand.

Lisa groaned. Right, the strategy meeting. The one where she was supposed to present her ideas for expanding into a new market. It was her first major responsibility in her new role, and it was coming up fast.

"Okay, Lisa,"  she thought to herself, taking a deep breath. "You’ve got this. You just survived giving a speech to Jennie’s shareholders. You can handle this."

But still, the pressure was building. The weight of juggling two rolesone foot still firmly in Jennie’s world, the other stepping into the unknown territory of her family’s business was starting to make her question whether she could really pull it all off.

"Am I really ready for this?"

---

That evening, Lisa sat at her desk long after most of the office had cleared out. The budget proposal Jennie had requested sat open on her screen, but her mind kept drifting to Thursday’s strategy meeting.

She knew the stakes were high not just for her family’s business, but for her personally. This was her chance to prove herself, not just to her dad, but to herself.

As she stared blankly at the numbers in front of her, she heard a familiar sound the soft click of heels approaching. She glanced up to see Jennie standing at the edge of her desk, arms crossed, looking down at her with that same unreadable expression.

“You’re still here,” Jennie observed.

Lisa rubbed her eyes, leaning back in her chair. “Yeah. Still working on that proposal you wanted. And... well, I’ve got this big strategy meeting coming up for my dad’s company. So, you know. Just juggling a few things.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. “It sounds like you’re letting yourself get overwhelmed.”

Lisa shrugged, trying to play it off. “I mean, maybe a little. But it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Jennie remained silent for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Lisa. Then, in her usual cool, clipped tone, she asked, “What’s the strategy?”

Lisa blinked, confused. “What?”

“The strategy for the meeting,” Jennie said, tilting her head slightly. “What’s your plan?”

Lisa hadn’t expected Jennie to ask about her work outside of Kim Industries. But then again, Jennie wasn’t the type to miss an opportunity to test her.

“Oh, well,” Lisa began, sitting up straighter, “it’s about expanding into a new market. Southeast Asia, specifically. My dad’s company has been doing well in manufacturing, but I think we need to pivot more toward sustainable tech, especially with the way that region is growing. My plan is to focus on long-term partnerships and building local teams to adapt to the market there.”

Jennie nodded slightly, her eyes still fixed on Lisa. “And how do you plan to convince the board that this is the right move?”

Lisa opened her mouth to respond, but then stopped. She hadn’t actually thought about convincing anyone yet she had just been focused on coming up with the idea itself.

Jennie’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You need more than a good idea, Ms. Manoban. You need to anticipate their concerns. Financial risks, competition, resource allocation those are the questions they’ll be asking. Have you prepared answers for those?”

Lisa’s heart sank a little. “I... hadn’t really gotten that far yet.”

Jennie exhaled sharply, not in frustration, but as though she’d expected this answer. “You have the potential to do well in this role, but you need to think strategically. Good leaders don’t just present ideas they present solutions to problems others haven’t thought of yet.”

Lisa nodded slowly, Jennie’s words sinking in. “Right. So, I need to think about what they’re going to challenge me on and come prepared with answers.”

Jennie gave a slight nod. “Exactly. If you want them to trust your leadership, you need to show them you’ve already considered the risks and how to mitigate them.”

Lisa stared at her for a moment, surprised by how much Jennie was offering. This was more advice than Jennie usually gave at least all at once. It was almost... helpful.

“Thanks,” Lisa said softly. “I think I really needed to hear that.”

Jennie didn’t respond to the thanks, but she didn’t brush it off either. Instead, she straightened and glanced at the clock. “Go home, Ms. Manoban. You won’t be of any use if you’re too exhausted to think.”

Lisa laughed, rubbing her eyes again. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”

Jennie turned to leave but paused at the door, her back to Lisa. “You’ve been doing well here. Don’t let your doubt hold you back.”

And then, before Lisa could even process what Jennie had just said, she was gone, her heels clicking softly down the hallway.

Lisa sat there for a moment, stunned. "Did Jennie Kim just give me an actual pep talk?"

Shaking her head in disbelief, Lisa shut down her computer and grabbed her things. Jennie’s words echoed in her mind as she left the office, a strange mix of confidence and nerves settling over her.

She had a lot of work to do before Thursday’s meeting, but now, thanks to Jennie’s advice, she felt like she had a clearer plan a real strategy. And for the first time, she wasn’t just hoping to survive the meeting. She was preparing to own it.

---

The next few days flew by in a blur of preparation. Lisa worked on refining her strategy, thinking through every potential challenge, every question the board might ask.

She put together financial projections, risk analyses, and a plan for addressing concerns about resource allocation. It was intense, but she was determined to show up fully prepared.

By the time Thursday morning arrived, Lisa felt ready. Nervous, but ready.

She stood outside the boardroom at her dad’s company, clutching her notes and taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. This was it the moment she’d been working toward. The first real test of her leadership.

As she walked into the boardroom, her dad gave her a warm smile, but she could see the same hint of expectation in his eyes that she always saw in Jennie’s. He believed in her, but she needed to prove it to the rest of the board.

The meeting started, and after the usual pleasantries, it was time for Lisa to present her strategy.

She stood at the front of the room, her nerves buzzing but her mind focused. She had rehearsed this a dozen times. She knew the material. And, thanks to Jennie’s advice, she had thought through every potential obstacle.

She launched into the presentation, walking the board through her plan for expanding into Southeast Asia, emphasizing the growth potential and the importance of sustainable tech. And just as Jennie had predicted, the questions started coming concerns about financial risks, competition, and whether the company had the resources to handle the expansion.

But this time, Lisa didn’t hesitate. She answered each question with confidence, pulling out the financial projections she’d prepared and explaining how they would mitigate risks. She had anticipated every challenge, and she had solutions.

By the time she finished, the room was silent for a moment, the board members exchanging glances.

Then, her dad spoke up, his voice filled with pride. “Well done, Lalisa. I think we’ve found our leader for this project.”

The board members nodded in agreement, and Lisa felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had done it. She had proven herself.

As the meeting wrapped up, Lisa couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t just about the success of the presentation it was about everything that had led to this moment. Jennie’s tough love, her father’s belief in her, and her own willingness to push past her doubts had all brought her here.

Later that evening, as she sat in her apartment reflecting on the day, Lisa’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Jennie: How did the meeting go?

Lisa grinned, typing out a quick reply: "Nailed it. Thanks for the advice."

A moment later, Jennie replied: Good. Don’t get complacent.

Lisa laughed, shaking her head.

Classic Jennie.

But even as she joked, she knew Jennie’s words were true. There was still a long road ahead, still more challenges to face. But now, more than ever, Lisa knew she was ready for them.

Because with Jennie’s cold, precise guidance and her own newfound confidence, she wasn’t just preparing to survive.

She was preparing to thrive.

Continue.......